OAC 310:257-5-62
Time as a public health control
Cite as Okla. Admin. Code § 310:257-5-62
(a) Pf Except as specified under (d) of this Section, if time without temperature control is used as
the public health control for a working supply of Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food
before cooking, or for ready-to-eat Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food that is displayed
or held for sale or service, written procedures shall be prepared in advance, maintained in the
food establishment and made available to the Department upon request that specify:
(1) Methods of compliance with (b)(1) through (4) or (c)(1) through (5) of this Section; and
(2) Methods of compliance with OAC 310:257-5-57 for food that is prepared, cooked, and
refrigerated before time is used as a public health control.
(b) If time without temperature control is used as the public health control up to a maximum of
four (4) hours:
(1) P The food shall have an initial temperature of 5°C (41°F) or less when removed from
cold holding temperature control, or 57°C (135°F) or greater when removed from hot holding
temperature control;
(2) Pf The food shall be marked or otherwise identified to indicate the time that is four (4)
hours past the point in time when the food is removed from temperature control;
(3) P The food shall be cooked and served, served at any temperature if ready-to-eat, or
discarded, within four (4) hours from the point in time when the food is removed from
temperature control; and
(4) P The food in unmarked containers or packages, or marked to exceed a 4-hour limit shall
be discarded.
(c) If time without temperature control is used as the public health control up to a maximum of
six (6) hours:
(1) P The food shall have an initial temperature of 5°C (41°F) or less when removed from
temperature control and the food temperature may not exceed 21°C (70°F) within a
maximum time period of six (6) hours;
(2) Pf The food shall be monitored to ensure the warmest portion of the food does not exceed
21°C (70°F) during the 6-hour period, unless an ambient air temperature is maintained that
ensures the food does not exceed 21°C (70°F) during the 6-hour holding period;
OAC 310:257
OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Page | 57
(3) Pf The food shall be marked or otherwise identified to indicate:
(A) The time when the food is removed from 5°C (41°F) or less cold holding
temperature control, and
(B) The time that is six (6) hours past the point in time when the food is removed from
cold holding temperature control;
(4) P The food shall be:
(A) Discarded if the temperature of the food exceeds 21°C (70°F), or
(B) Cooked and served, served at any temperature if ready-to-eat, or discarded within a
maximum of six (6) hours from the point in time when the food is removed from 5°C
(41°F) or less cold holding temperature control; and
(5) P The food in unmarked containers or packages, or marked with a time that exceeds the 6-
hour limit shall be discarded.
(d) A food establishment that serves a highly susceptible population shall not use time as
specified in (a), (b) or (c) of this Section as the public health control for raw eggs.